Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 18, 1925 — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

DINNER FOR CYNTHIA. > since at a guess not particularly shrewd, the rather colorless matron in the chair had never heard of even one of the four, Cyn- thia set the piece down carefully and cast about for further material. — There was one painting over in the corner which looked as if it might be worth a few raptures. Or, without bothering to cross the room, she could cry out in further de- light and stoop and, quite justifiably, effer- vesce over the bit of Eastern carpet upon which she was standing. But there was something about Mrs. Ronalds which sug- gested that she had not summoned Cynthia to enthuse over her art works—that, in fine, she would prefer to talk of the present. So Cynthia sighed and dimpled and re- sumed her chair and said: ‘“‘ Well—I had your note, of course.” “Yes,” said Cornelia. ‘“‘ And I came at once.” ‘““ Ves,” repeated Cornelia. you for coming so promptly.” “T thought that was best. That is, I thought you’d rather hear about it as soon as possible.” “ Yes,” said Mrs. Ronalds, and braced herself slightly. ‘“‘ Just what,” laughed Cynthia, ‘‘ made you think that I was going to marry your son Neville?” ‘Why, I—I inferred that, from what he said. He is very reticent, you know—or perhaps he isn’t with you?” “Well, he’s not only reticent, but inac- curate also, or else, Mrs. Ronalds, you mis- understood him. I haven’t the slightest in- tention of marrying him—and I’m quite sure that such an idea never entered his head, either.” ce Bit?” “ Never!”’ ‘But he—he must have asked yeu te marry him!” “Why must he?” “ Because he—because I—” “Well, he never suggested such a thing to me, at any rate,” Cynthia laughed. “If he really told you that—” ‘Oh, the mistake must have been mine,” Mrs. Ronalds said quickly. ‘“ Neville doesn’t lie. _He’s the very soul of honor!” ‘Of course. But whatever the misun- “ Er—thank 183 derstanding may have been, I thought I’d better hurry a little about dispelling it. It’s rather absurd for a girl to discover that a man she hardly knows is going around an- nouncing their engagement, isn’t it?” ‘‘ Absurd—yes. I can’t understand it at all!’”? Mrs, Ronalds murmured. ‘“ Er— Miss Blair, will you pardon one question?” ‘* T suppose so,” “Well, then—I hardly know how to put this, but—are you guife sure that you have told me everything?” “Meaning that I’m holding back some- thing or other for purposes of my own?” Cynthia asked, evenly enough. ‘No, no! Not that at all; I hadn't meant to imply that. But under certain conditions, you know, young people fre- quently are very secretive!” Mrs. Ronalds suggested slyly. ‘‘ It occurred to me, since my dear boy has been so deeply affected as to feel some diffidence about telling even his mother, that possibly this might have been one of those very sudden and violent — attachments that rather frighten everybody concerned?” “Tt wasn’t, though,” Cynthia laughed. ‘* Indeed, it would be much nearer the truth to say that I’m not actually acquainted with your son.” Cornelia’s head went a little to one side. She smiled up at Miss Blair most encourag- ingly. ‘““ Because you needn’t have the least hesitation about ’fessing up now, you know. Really, you’re not at all what I expected you to be— Well?” ‘Well, if that’s a compliment, thank you, of course,” said Cynthia. ‘‘ But I can’t very well confess to something that never happened, can I?” ‘““‘You—no, I suppose not,’ Mrs. Ron- alds conceded, helplessly. ‘ I’m—quite confused, you know.” “ That’s rather natural,” the caller dim- pled. “I was a bit astonished myself when I read your note and learned of my engage- ment.” She stole another glance at the clock. The clock was moving along in the most obliging way. Within three or four more minutes, if this was one of these conven- tional and perfectly regulated households Gomichbooks (E@)